South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 95,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of South Derbyshire increased by 16%, from almost 81,600 to 94,600.

The addition of just over 13,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Derbyshire was home to, on average, 2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Derbyshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Derbyshire increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than the East Midlands and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 700.

About 16% of people in South Derbyshire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Derbyshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Derbyshire

South Derbyshire saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.3%) in South Derbyshire reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 8.0% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 3.8%.

Across the region, only Derby saw a greater fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 7.3% to 6.3%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Derbyshire

The number of people in South Derbyshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 11,000 in 2001 to just over 25,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in South Derbyshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 64,000 in 2001 to just under 61,000 in 2011 (from 78% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 5,300 to about 6,200. Both of these figures represented about 6.6% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

About 1,400 people (1.3%) said they were Sikh, up from just over 1,000 in 2001 (1.5%).

The population without a religion in South Derbyshire increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Derbyshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Derbyshire that rented privately increased from 6.5% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.9%) households lived in social housing, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage of South Derbyshire households that owned their home decreased from 79% to 75%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in South Derbyshire increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Derbyshire, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Derbyshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 4.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of South Derbyshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Derbyshire decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Derbyshire, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Derbyshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Derbyshire decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Derbyshire, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in South Derbyshire that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.7% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of single people in South Derbyshire increased from 24% to 29%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in South Derbyshire

The number of people in South Derbyshire from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 79,000 in 2001 to about 91,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 97% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in South Derbyshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 1,500 in 2001 to just under 2,400 in 2011 (from 1.9% to 2.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 460 to about 1,100 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

Just under 430 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 200 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in South Derbyshire decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Derbyshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children increased in South Derbyshire, but at a slower rate than in Hinckley and Bosworth (one of the most statistically similar areas to South Derbyshire based on ONS area classifications).

In South Derbyshire, the proportion of households without children increased from 59% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Hinckley and Bosworth increased from 59% to 63%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of households without children increased from 61% to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in South Derbyshire remained close to 31%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 10% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of one-person households changed very little here, while the proportion increased in statistically similar Hinckley and Bosworth.

In South Derbyshire, the proportion of one-person households increased from 25% in 2001 to 26% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Hinckley and Bosworth increased from 25% to 28%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of one-person households increased from 28% to 29%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in South Derbyshire increased from 9.8% to 12%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 45% to 40%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of South Derbyshire residents that were studying increased from 1.9% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of South Derbyshire residents that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 3.1%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of South Derbyshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.3% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in South Derbyshire remained close to 2.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Derbyshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links